After months of speculation, Disney and Lucasfilm have announced on April 29 the cast for “Star Wars: Episode VII”. Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, and Harrison Ford will all reprise their roles as Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, and Han Solo in the film. Joining them will be newcomer John Boyega, who will appear in FOX’s upcoming “24: Live Another Day” miniseries; Oscar Isaac (“Inside Llewyn Davis”); Adam Driver (“Girls”) and veteran actor from Bergman’s movies Max von Sydow. Boyega was among the actors rumored for the lead in the sequel. Driver is expected to play the main antagonist. His character has been described to be “in the vein of iconic Darth Vader.”

Not much is known about the film’s plot; however, it’s rumored that Harrison Ford will have quite a large role. Lucasfilm announced last week the new movies will deter from the expanded “Star Wars” universe. So, all the books, comics, and video games, cartoons, etc. released since “Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi” that explain what happens after the film will have little to no impact on the sequels and spin-off movies going forward. “Star Wars: Episode VII” will be released Dec. 18, 2015.

Here’s the release:

The Star Wars team is thrilled to announce the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII.

Director J.J. Abrams says, “We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud.”

Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, and John Williams returns as the composer. The movie opens worldwide on December 18, 2015.

Star Wars Episode VII: The Ancient Fear?

Some reporting have revealed the working title for Star Wars Episode VII as The Ancient Fear. While this is yet to be officially verified, the reaction on Twitter has ranged from the underwhelmed to the cautiously optimistic, but what do you think about how Episode VII should be titled? Do you think The Ancient Fear sounds worthy of the franchise’s history, or it sounds worse than Phantom Menace?

Episode VII Day One

On May 16, filming has begun on the eagerly anticipated new Star Wars movie, which will reunite many of the original stars. Episode VII is being filmed at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, continuing the movie series’ tradition of working in the UK, although it is the first time Abrams has filmed outside the US. The director’s production company, Bad Robot, tweeted the hashtag #dayone and a photo of the film’s clapperboard.